Family devastated by loss of three lives
The name of the family and those who lost their lives have not yet been released as not all the next of kin have been informed of the deaths.
More than a week later, a woman (35) is still unaware that her six-year-old daughter and mother died in a car accident last Saturday afternoon on the R40 near Barberton. The accident has left her in a critical condition.
Her name, as well as the particulars of her family, are being withheld until she can be informed of the tragedy. A close family member also succumbed in the accident.
Another family member who was at the accident scene shortly after, said the family were going through an extremely difficult time dealing with the horrible loss of lives, and that other family members in other parts of the country had also still not been informed of the deaths.
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According to the family member, his brother (54), his brother’s wife (54) and the close family friend (38) drove to Barberton late on Saturday morning to fetch their grandchild (6) and daughter (35), the woman now in critical condition.
The five occupants were driving back to Mbombela in a Land Rover when the accident happened at around midday.
“I noticed the skid marks when I was on the scene. There were no signs of a burst tyre. We think the family swerved to avoid another vehicle and that is when theirs overturned,” said the family member.
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He said some of the occupants were flung from the car and the family friend died on the scene of the accident.
“The grandchild was airlifted to Rob Ferreira and her mother was also rushed to the same hospital. The child died later that evening,” he said.
The mother was later transferred to Kiaat Private Hospital.
“My brother and his wife were rushed to Mediclinic Nelspruit. My brother had a few bruises and fractures, but his wife died on Saturday.”
The family member said they were still awaiting accident reports from the police, which they expected to receive either today (Thursday) or tomorrow (Friday).
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The provincial spokesperson for health, Dumisani Malamule, said the road had been closed for two hours in order to transport the family to hospital and to clear the scene.
The police said they were unable to comment at the time of going to press, due to the station being closed due to a positive Covid case.
The family have asked that people remain respectful of their privacy during this painful period, and asked anyone who may have witnessed the accident to come forward and speak with the police.
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